The Road To Love: Love by Degree / The Rain Sparrow

“What you need is a break.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Twenty years?” She stood up and brought the cookie jar to the table. “Here, this will help ease the suffering.” She offered him a chocolate-chip cookie and took one herself.

“Be more patient with yourself,” Reed urged.

“There’s only two weeks left in this term—and then exams. I need to understand this stuff and I need to understand it now.”

He laid his hands on her shoulders, massaging gently. “No, you don’t. Come on, I’m taking you to a movie.”

“I’ve got to study,” she protested, but not too strenuously. Escaping for an hour or two sounded infinitely more appealing than struggling with these impossible equations.

“There’s a wonderful foreign film showing at the Moore Egyptian Theatre and we’re going. We can worry about that assignment once we get back.”

“But, Reed—”

“No buts. We’re going.” He took her firmly by the hand and led her into the front hall. Derek and Monte were watching TV and the staccato sounds of machine guns firing could be heard in the background. Neither boy noticed them until Reed opened the hall closet.

“Where are you two headed?” Derek asked, peering around the living-room door as Reed handed Ellen her jacket.

“A movie.”

Instantly Derek muted the television. “The two of you alone? Together?”

“I imagine there’ll be one or two others at the cinema,” Reed responded dryly.

“Can I come?” Monte had joined Derek in the doorway.

Instantly Derek’s elbow shoved the other boy in the ribs. “On second thought, just bring me back some popcorn, okay?”

“Sure.”

Ellen pulled a knit cap over her ears. “Do either of you want anything else? I’d buy out the concession stand if one of you felt inclined to do my algebra assignment.”

“No way.”

“Bribing them won’t help,” Reed commented.

“I know, but I was hoping....”

It was a cold, blustery night. An icy north wind whipped against them as they hurried to Reed’s truck. He opened the door for her before running around to the driver’s side.

“Brr.” Ellen shoved her hands inside her pockets. “If I doubted it was winter before, now I know.”

“Come here and I’ll warm you.” He patted the seat beside him, indicating that she should slide closer.

Willingly she complied, until she sat so near him that her thigh pressed against his. Neither of them moved. It had been several days since they’d been completely alone together and longer still since he’d held or kissed her without interruption. The past week had been filled with frustration. Often she’d noticed Reed’s gaze on her, studying her face and her movements, but it seemed that every time he touched her one of the boys would unexpectedly appear.

Reed turned to her. Their thoughts seemed to echo each other’s; their eyes locked hungrily. Ellen required no invitation. She’d been longing for his touch. With a tiny cry she reached for him just as his arms came out to encircle her, drawing her even closer.

“This is crazy,” he whispered fervently into her hair.

“I know.”

As though he couldn’t deny himself any longer, he cradled her face with both hands and he slowly lowered his mouth to hers.

Their lips clung and Reed’s hand went around her ribs as he held her tight. The kiss was long and thoroughly satisfying.

Panting, he tore his mouth from hers and buried his face in her neck. “We’d better get to that movie.”

It was all Ellen could do to nod her head in agreement.

They moved apart and fastened their seat belts, both of them silent.

When Reed started the truck, she saw that his hand was trembling. She was shaking too, but no longer from the cold. Reed had promised to warm her and he had, but not quite in the way she’d expected.

They were silent as Reed pulled onto the street. After days of carefully avoiding any kind of touch, any lingering glances, they’d sat in the driveway kissing in direct view of curious eyes. She realized the boys could easily have been watching them.

Ellen felt caught up in a tide that tossed her closer and closer to a long stretch of rocky beach. Powerless to alter the course of her emotions, she feared for her heart, afraid of being caught in the undertow.

“The engineering department is having a Christmas party this weekend at the Space Needle,” Reed murmured.

Ellen nodded. Twice in the past week he’d left the house wearing formal evening clothes. He hadn’t told her where he was going, but she knew. He’d driven the Porsche and he’d come back smelling of expensive perfume. For a Christmas party with his peers, Reed would escort Danielle. She understood that and tried to accept it.

“I want you to come with me.”

“Reed,” she breathed, uncertain. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” His hand reached for hers. “I want you with me.”

“The boys—”

“Forget the boys. I’m tired of playing games with them.”

Her smile came from her heart. “I am, too,” she whispered.

“I’m going to have a talk with them.”

“Don’t,” she pleaded. “It’s not necessary to say anything.”

“They’ll start in with their teasing,” he warned. “I thought you hated that.”

“I don’t care as much anymore. And if they do, we can say something then.”

He frowned briefly. “All right.”

The Moore Egyptian was located in the heart of downtown Seattle, so parking was limited. They finally found a spot on the street three blocks away. They left the truck and hurried through the cold, arm in arm, not talking. The French film was a popular one; by the time they got to the cinema, a long line had already formed outside.

A blast of wind sliced through Ellen’s jacket and she buried her hands in her pockets. Reed leaned close to ask her something, then paused, slowly straightening.